Rudd says letter to Pfizer not part of 'botched' vaccine program

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said he would never associate himself with the government's "comprehensively botched" COVID-19 vaccine program.

His latest statement comes after reports he intervened to speed the delivery of Pfizer vaccines to Australia were denied by the Federal Government.

Health Minister Greg Hunt earlier rubbished suggestions an intervention from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had any impact on the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines from manufacturer Pfizer.

Pfizer has also denied any "third party" had been involved in their negotiations with the Federal Government.

A report by the ABC said Mr Rudd had been approached by a group of senior Australian businessmen to get in touch with the US pharmaceutical company to bring forward vaccine delivery.

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It was reported the Federal Government had displayed a "rude" and "penny-pinching" attitude in initial negotiations, and that Pfizer executives had been reduced to dealing with junior government representatives.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, from Mr Rudd's opposing political party though also dumped by his colleagues, tweeted congratulations to Mr Rudd for getting involved and said he was "staggered" by the news.

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In a letter dated June 30 to Prime Minister Scott Morrison's office, and obtained by the ABC, Mr Rudd said he had been acting as a private citizen and at no point had claimed to be a government representative.

The letter states Mr Rudd had asked Pfizer chairman Albert Bourla whether there was an opportunity for "significant quantities" of the Pfizer vaccine to be advanced to Australia in the third quarter of the year.

"In response to my representations, Dr Bourla said he would personally look at 'what further might be able to be done'," the letter read.

Mr Rudd this afternoon issued a statement, saying before contacting Dr Bourla, he had contact Mr Morrison asking if there was anything he could "say, or not say" to benefit Australia's vaccine rollout program.

"Mr Morrison provided some advice and later thanked Mr Rudd for his letter summarising the conversation," the statement read.

Mr Rudd confirmed again he had been acting as a concerned private citizen and that all negotiating powers rested with the federal government.

"Mr Rudd would definitely not seek to associate himself with the Australian government's comprehensively botched vaccine procurement program," the statement read.

Mr Morrison today told Sky News the government's work with Pfizer had been responsible for bringing forward the delivery of the contracted 40 million doses.

"I welcome the support from anyone who wants to assist with these things, and that's fine," he said.

"But ultimately, as Pfizer has made very clear, I mean, this is a contractual relationship between the federal government ... and Pfizer."

Both Mr Hunt and Pfizer also sternly rebutted claims that negotiations between the Federal Government and the company were influenced by anybody else.

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"Recent media reports suggesting that any third party or individual has had any role in contractual agreements reached between Pfizer and the Australian government are inaccurate," Pfizer said in a statement.

"Pfizer is committed to delivering 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19 vaccine to Australia over 2021.

"Pfizer has met its contractual agreements to date and is on track to deliver the remaining doses by the end of the year."

Mr Hunt similarly brushed the reports aside, saying they were "unattributed" and "unverified".

He said the government had secured the best deal possible from Pfizer.

"I had a little chuckle when I saw the story," he said.

"We received a letter from the individual in question, I think, not long ago and we said to ourselves, 'well, no doubt that will be released when our current negotiations are announced publicly'.

"That is exactly what happened."

Mr Hunt said he welcomed Mr Rudd's input into the vaccine rollout, but said it had not had any impact.

"We just got exactly the best outcome that we were seeking on exactly the terms and on exactly the time frame," he said.

"So I respect that individuals will sometimes take initiatives and we welcome and thank them, but did it make a difference? No."

He suggested the letter was part of "a little game".